High Performance Organization
Several of the City’s senior managers have attended leadership training at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, either the one week program (LEAD), or the two week Senior Executive Institute (SEI). Including several first line supervisors, Bowling Green has sent more employees through this training than any other Kentucky city.
The main purpose of the training is to help develop a high performing organization (HPO) through continuous process improvement. Such an organization becomes more efficient by best utilizing its resources, its employees. Senior Managers are using this training to develop employee Process Action Teams (PAT) to evaluate city government functions and processes. Process Action Teams focus on issues and areas that are the legitimate responsibility for groups of employees, not one employee or department, and where they can improve public services, potentially at a lower cost.
>> Read more about Process Action Teams
The City of Bowling Green HPO Program emphasizes continuous improvement to the organization and customer service. The goal of HPO is to provide leadership through a unified, shared vision of City employees to address and resolve issues affecting Bowling Green; both the organization and the community. In addition, more information, accountability, and authority are put into the hands of employees. Employees are closest to the services, products and customers.
In the long-term direction of the organization, this effort will foster motivation, trust, and guidance to the work force and improve customer service to the community as a whole. HPO must also foster leadership and professional development for City employees, which is critical to develop mid-managers and the leaders of tomorrow’s municipal workforce.